City of New Brunswick, NJ
02/05/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/05/2026 14:40
Statement from New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ (February 4, 2026) - Recent national incidents and conversations surrounding immigration enforcement and the role of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have created understandable concern and uncertainty in communities across the country. Here in New Brunswick, our focus remains clear and consistent: the safety, dignity, and well-being of every person within our City.
The federal government has a responsibility and the right to enforce immigration laws, and ICE is the federal agency tasked with carrying out those responsibilities. The manner in which that responsibility is carried out is determined by the federal administration.
At the same time, local government has an equally important responsibility. As local officials, we take an oath to uphold the Constitutions and the laws of both the State of New Jersey and the United States of America. Our police officers take this very same oath. In doing so, we must respect the laws of the land, and cannot, and should not, interfere with the lawful exercise of federal enforcement operations.
Paramount among our responsibilities is the protection of all the people in our community, including their rights guaranteed under our laws and constitutions. That commitment applies to everyone in New Brunswick regardless of immigration status.
It is the mission of the City and its Police Department to maintain public safety and to preserve trust within our community. That trust is essential to effective policing and to ensuring that all residents feel safe reporting crimes, seeking help, and cooperating with local law enforcement when needed.
The City does not use or allow the use of its resources toward civil immigration enforcement. The New Brunswick Police Department does not enforce federal immigration law and does not participate in immigration raids or immigration investigations.
The City and its Police Department remain committed to protecting and serving all members of our community. To that end, the police department will document all known ICE activity, both announced and unannounced, within the City.
In an effort to prevent the exploitation of our residents by others, if an individual believes that someone claiming to be an ICE agent has not properly identified him or herself, the New Brunswick Police Department will respond and make every effort to determine the validity of the individual claiming to be an agent and the nature of the investigation.
The New Brunswick Police Department will not, however, assist with, nor deter, the lawful detention of individuals sought by ICE.
The City will establish protocols to be followed by city employees relating to interactions with federal immigration authorities.
The City of New Brunswick will continue working with trusted community partners to make information available to residents. This includes educational materials distributed through community organizations, the City website, social media, and public bulletin boards, explaining individuals' legal rights, what individuals are legally obligated to do when approached or questioned by ICE, and what rights exist in situations involving detention.
New Brunswick has always been a diverse and welcoming community. We will continue to follow the law, protect our residents, and work to help ensure that everyone in our City feels safe, respected, and informed.
For more than three centuries, New Brunswick has served as a port of entry for those entering our country. Each wave of new residents has added tremendously to the economy, culture and history of New Brunswick, and most importantly, to its social fabric.
And today is no different. Each of us in New Brunswick, except for those that may be of Native American ancestry, is an immigrant, or the proud descendant of an immigrant, to the United States of America. Our history as a community has been shaped by the contributions of immigrants from around the world.
We are proud of that.
The federal government has a responsibility and the right to enforce immigration laws, and ICE is the federal agency tasked with carrying out those responsibilities. The manner in which that responsibility is carried out is determined by the federal administration.
At the same time, local government has an equally important responsibility. As local officials, we take an oath to uphold the Constitutions and the laws of both the State of New Jersey and the United States of America. Our police officers take this very same oath. In doing so, we must respect the laws of the land, and cannot, and should not, interfere with the lawful exercise of federal enforcement operations.
Paramount among our responsibilities is the protection of all the people in our community, including their rights guaranteed under our laws and constitutions. That commitment applies to everyone in New Brunswick regardless of immigration status.
It is the mission of the City and its Police Department to maintain public safety and to preserve trust within our community. That trust is essential to effective policing and to ensuring that all residents feel safe reporting crimes, seeking help, and cooperating with local law enforcement when needed.
The City does not use or allow the use of its resources toward civil immigration enforcement. The New Brunswick Police Department does not enforce federal immigration law and does not participate in immigration raids or immigration investigations.
The City and its Police Department remain committed to protecting and serving all members of our community. To that end, the police department will document all known ICE activity, both announced and unannounced, within the City.
In an effort to prevent the exploitation of our residents by others, if an individual believes that someone claiming to be an ICE agent has not properly identified him or herself, the New Brunswick Police Department will respond and make every effort to determine the validity of the individual claiming to be an agent and the nature of the investigation.
The New Brunswick Police Department will not, however, assist with, nor deter, the lawful detention of individuals sought by ICE.
The City will establish protocols to be followed by city employees relating to interactions with federal immigration authorities.
The City of New Brunswick will continue working with trusted community partners to make information available to residents. This includes educational materials distributed through community organizations, the City website, social media, and public bulletin boards, explaining individuals' legal rights, what individuals are legally obligated to do when approached or questioned by ICE, and what rights exist in situations involving detention.
New Brunswick has always been a diverse and welcoming community. We will continue to follow the law, protect our residents, and work to help ensure that everyone in our City feels safe, respected, and informed.
For more than three centuries, New Brunswick has served as a port of entry for those entering our country. Each wave of new residents has added tremendously to the economy, culture and history of New Brunswick, and most importantly, to its social fabric.
And today is no different. Each of us in New Brunswick, except for those that may be of Native American ancestry, is an immigrant, or the proud descendant of an immigrant, to the United States of America. Our history as a community has been shaped by the contributions of immigrants from around the world.
We are proud of that.
City of New Brunswick, NJ published this content on February 05, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 05, 2026 at 20:41 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]